title: An unusual pedestrian road trauma: from forensic pathology to forensic veterinary medicine.
abstract: Traffic accidents have increased in the last decade, pedestrians being the most affected group. At autopsy, it is evident that the most common cause of pedestrian death is central nervous system injury, followed by skull base fractures, internal bleeding, lower limb haemorrhage, skull vault fractures, cervical spinal cord injury and airway compromise. The attribution of accident responsibility can be realised through reconstruction of road accident dynamics, investigation of the scene, survey of the vehicle involved and examination of the victim(s). A case study concerning a car accident where both humans and pets were involved is reported here. Investigation and reconstruction of the crime scene were conducted by a team consisting of forensic pathologists and forensic veterinarians. At the scene investigation, the pedestrian and his dog were recovered on the side of the road. An autopsy and a necropsy were conducted on the man and the dog, respectively. In addition, a complete inspection of the sports utility vehicle (SUV) implicated in the road accident was conducted. The results of the autopsy and necropsy were compared and the information was used to reconstruct the collision. This unusual case was solved through the collaboration between forensic pathology and veterinary forensic medicine, emphasising the importance of this kind of co-operation to solve a crime scene concerning both humans and animals.
authors.affiliation: Chair of Legal Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; Chair of Veterinary Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy. Electronic address: isabella.aquila@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aquila
authors.affiliation: Chair of Legal Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; Chair of Veterinary Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Ciro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Nunzio
authors.affiliation: Chair of Legal Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; Chair of Veterinary Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Paciello
authors.affiliation: Chair of Legal Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; Chair of Veterinary Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Britti
authors.affiliation: Chair of Legal Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; Chair of Veterinary Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pepe
authors.affiliation: Chair of Legal Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; Chair of Veterinary Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.affiliation: Chair of Legal Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; Chair of Veterinary Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietrantonio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ricci
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D006406:Hematoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D006465:Hemoperitoneum / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D006491:Hemothorax / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000662:veterinary*; D013154:Spleen / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000473:pathology; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary
keywords: Autopsy; Forensic pathology; Forensic sciences; Forensic veterinary medicine; Traffic accident